As Steve Kerr wrapped up a 17-minute press conference Saturday where he sidestepped a salvo of Klay Thompson comeback questions, the Warriors superstar made his announcement in fitting fashion: with a Space Jam video featuring Bill Murray.
“How I’m pulling up to chase tomorrow, Bill Murray is my spirit animal,” Thompson wrote in the caption. “IM SO EXCITED TO SEE YALL DUBNATION ! LETS GET IT.”
Thompson is set to return Sunday at Chase Center against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tension has been building this week, since ESPN and The Athletic reported Sunday would be the day with an expected announcement Saturday.
Thompson hasn’t played in an NBA game since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, when he tore his ACL. In November 2020, Thompson tore his Achilles just days before the season opener. After two years and seven months, Klay Day is finally here.
Just minutes after Thompson posted his video to Instagram, Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson addressed the reporters about Klay's much-anticipated comeback.
"The magnitude of this moment is so big for us," the Oakland native Toscano-Anderson said. "For the Golden State Warriors organization and just for The Bay, too. Like, Klay's beloved in the Bay. Klay's one of us. Klay could move to Oakland forever. Klay could move to 95th [Avenue] if he wanted to. Klay's going to enjoy the moment and I'm going to enjoy the moment."
Kerr told reporters he was in something of an "impossible situation" when he took the podium Saturday. The Athletic reported late Friday night that the Warriors would make an official announcement Saturday. But when Kerr sat down with reporters, he kept deflecting Klay questions with vague answers.
"I’m just the coach of the team," Kerr said. "It’s up to Klay and [director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celibrini]. ... Whether it happens tomorrow, next week or whatever."
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Kerr didn't wilt despite the constant questioning, deferring to Thompson to make the announcement himself. Then, literally as Kerr stepped away from the microphone, Klay posted his video to Instagram.
"Thank you for enduring that ridiculous charade with me," Kerr said with a laugh.
Much like with Steph Curry's chase of Ray Allen's 3-point record earlier this season, there is a palpable buzz surrounding the Warriors these days. Draymond Green couldn't contain his excitement with a 5 a.m. Instagram post. Kerr said the energy in Saturday's practice was high, as Thompson ran up and down the court with his teammates. One last team practice session before the real deal.
"It feels like there’s a real good jolt of energy coming our way right now," Kerr said.
His Splash Brother Steph Curry is certainly excited, too, and re-lived some of his favorite Klay Thompson memories with Dub Nation on Twitter.
Thompson has been building up his endurance over the past few weeks while rehabbing with Golden State and the G League Santa Cruz Warriors. When a game in Denver against the Nuggets was postponed a couple weeks ago, Thompson got the rare chance to run with the Warriors' first-teamers in a scrimmage setting.
"That was a really crucial milestone," Kerr said. "It felt like an important emotional event, to see the group together again."
Toscano-Anderson said Thompson has been a scoring machine recently.
"We scrimmaged one time and he ran off 12 points in 43 seconds," Toscano-Anderson.
Kerr said there's no doubt that Thompson will be in the starting lineup Sunday, which will lead to some tough playing-time decisions for the coach. Starting Klay wasn't one of them.
"I've had a few people ask me, 'What are you going to do with Klay?," Kerr said. "It's, like, he's Klay Thompson. When you can score 60 points in 29 minutes, generally, the coach should start you. Klay's going to start. I've talked to him about it."
Warriors owner Joe Lacob said Thompson's return will be one of the most emotional moments in franchise history. Kerr, who has won eight NBA championships as a player and coach, said Klay's comeback will be beyond special.
"I will never forget that game," Kerr said. "It'll stand out as one of the highlights of my entire basketball existence. Just because of who Klay is and how much he has meant to our franchise, to the Bay Area, to me personally, to his teammates. He's kind of everybody's favorite guy and we've all seen him suffer for two-and-a-half years. It'll be very emotional."
